JOHN Sussex feels there is pressure on Basildon United to pick up a positive result in tonight’s local derby with Great Wakering Rovers.

A 3-0 defeat to table-toppers Maldon & Tiptree means the Bees have been beaten in four of their first five Isthmian North fixtures of the campaign.

And, although he knows Wakering fill prove tough to overcome at the Cousins Car Wash Stadium, Basildon boss Sussex is eager to bag three points.

“Wakering are fifth in the league and in good form,” said Sussex.

“It’s another difficult game and the fixtures haven’t been kind to us so far.

“We have been away to Bury Town, Grays Athletic and Maldon & Tiptree, with all of them being in the top four at the moment.

“The defeats have put a bit of pressure on us and we need to get a result tonight.

“If not, we are going to be languishing near the bottom of the table and that wouldn’t be a fair reflection of how we have been playing.

“It’s a big game and I’m confident that we can get a result if we play how we did in the FA Cup win over Coggeshall Town earlier this month.”

While Basildon go into the local derby following a setback at Maldon, Wakering have recorded back-to-back victories.

A comfortable Isthmian League Cup triumph at Witham Town was followed up by a convincing win over Romford.

Goals from Jack Stevenson, Jake Gordon, Adalberto Pinto and Martin Tuohy resulted in Inesh Sumiththran’s spot-kick being no more than a consolation for Romford in the Isthmian North encounter.

And Wakering player-manager Steve Butterworth is keen to extend the winning run by claiming local bragging rights at the Cousins Car Wash Stadium tonight.

Butterworth, who took permanent charge in April, said: “No disrespect to Basildon, but this is the type of game that we need to win if we want to achieve anything this season.

“If you look at the way they have been over the last few years and the budget they have, you would expect them to be in the bottom half of the table.

“In all honesty, a lot of people would expect us to be in the bottom half as well.

“But you need to beat teams who are predicted to be around you in the table.

“If you do that, you stand a chance of having a good season.

“We have a good side but we are probably punching above our weight as we are in fifth place at the moment.”